Sao Tome and Principe

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

NA

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios

38,000 (1997)

Telephone system

domestic: minimal system international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

3,000 (1995)

Telephones - mobile cellular

NA

Television broadcast stations

2 (1997)

Televisions

23,000 (1997)

Agriculture - products

cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, copra, cinnamon, pepper, coffee, bananas, papayas, beans; poultry; fish

Budget

revenues: $58 million expenditures: $114 million, including capital expenditures of $54 million (1993 est.)

Currency

1 dobra (Db) = 100 centimos

Debt - external

$274 million (1998)

Economic aid - recipient

$57.3 million (1995)

Economy - overview

This small poor island economy has become increasingly dependent on cocoa since independence 25 years ago. However, cocoa production has substantially declined because of drought and mismanagement. The resulting shortage of cocoa for export has created a persistent balance-of-payments problem. Sao Tome has to import all fuels, most manufactured goods, consumer goods, and a significant amount of food. Over the years, it has been unable to service its external debt and has had to depend on concessional aid and debt rescheduling. Considerable potential exists for development of a tourist industry, and the government has taken steps to expand facilities in recent years. The government also has attempted to reduce price controls and subsidies, but economic growth has remained sluggish. Sao Tome is also optimistic that significant petroleum discoveries are forthcoming in its territorial waters in the oil-rich waters of the Gulf of Guinea. Corruption scandals continue to weaken the economy.

Electricity - consumption

14 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - production

15 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 46.67% hydro: 53.33% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)

Exchange rates

dobras (Db) per US$1 - 7,200.0 (October 1999), 7,104.05 (1998), 4,552.5 (1997), 2,203.2 (1996), 1,420.3 (1995)

Exports

$4.9 million (f.o.b., 1999 est.)

Exports - commodities

cocoa 90%, copra, coffee, palm oil (1997)

Exports - partners

Netherlands 51%, Germany 6%, Portugal 6% (1997)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $169 million (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 23% industry: 19% services: 58% (1997 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,100 (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

1.5% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$19.5 million (f.o.b., 1999 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and electrical equipment, food products, petroleum products

Imports - partners

Portugal 26%, France 18%, Angola, Belgium, Japan (1997)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

light construction, textiles, soap, beer; fish processing; timber

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

10.5% (yearend 1999 est.)

Labor force

NA

Labor force - by occupation

population mainly engaged in subsistence agriculture and fishing note: shortages of skilled workers

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

50% in the formal business sector (1998 est.)

Area

total: 1,001 sq km land: 1,001 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative

more than five times the size of Washington, DC

Climate

tropical; hot, humid; one rainy season (October to May)

Coastline

209 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Pico de Sao Tome 2,024 m

Environment - current issues

deforestation; soil erosion and exhaustion

Environment - international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates

1 00 N, 7 00 E

Irrigated land

100 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 2% permanent crops: 36% permanent pastures: 1% forests and woodland: 0% other: 61% (1993 est.)

Location

Western Africa, islands in the Gulf of Guinea, straddling the Equator, west of Gabon

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

measured from claimed archipelagic baselines exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

fish, hydropower

Terrain

volcanic, mountainous

Administrative divisions

2 provinces; Principe, Sao Tome note: Principe has had self-government since 29 April 1995

Capital

Sao Tome

Constitution

approved March 1990; effective 10 September 1990

Country name

conventional long form: Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe conventional short form: Sao Tome and Principe local long form: Republica Democratica de Sao Tome e Principe local short form: Sao Tome e Principe

Data code

TP

Diplomatic representation from the US

the US does not have an embassy in Sao Tome and Principe; the Ambassador to Gabon is accredited to Sao Tome and Principe on a nonresident basis and makes periodic visits to the islands

Diplomatic representation in the US

Sao Tome and Principe does not have an embassy in the US, but does have a Permanent Mission to the UN, headed by First Secretary Domingos Augusto FERREIRA, located at 122 East 42nd Street, Suite 1604, New York, NY 10168, telephone [1] (212) 317-0533

Executive branch

chief of state: President Miguel TROVOADA (since 4 April 1991) head of government: Prime Minister Guilherma Posser da COSTA (since 30 December 1998) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the proposal of the prime minister elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 30 June and 21 July 1996 (next to be held NA July 2001); prime minister chosen by the National Assembly and approved by the president election results: Miguel TROVOADA reelected president in Sao Tome's second multiparty presidential election; percent of vote - Miguel TROVOADA 52.74%, Manuel Pinto da COSTA 47.26%

Flag description

three horizontal bands of green (top), yellow (double width), and green with two black five-pointed stars placed side by side in the center of the yellow band and a red isosceles triangle based on the hoist side; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Government type

republic

Independence

12 July 1975 (from Portugal)

International organization participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the National Assembly

Legal system

based on Portuguese legal system and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (55 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 8 November 1998 (next to be held NA November 2003) election results: percent of vote by party - MLSTP-PSD 56%, PCD 14.5%, ADI 29%; seats by party - MLSTP-PSD 31, ADI 16, PCD 8

National holiday

Independence Day, 12 July (1975)

Political parties and leaders

Christian Democratic Front or FDC [Alphonse Dos SANTOS]; Democratic Opposition Coalition or CODO [leader NA]; Independent Democratic Action or ADI [Carlos NEVES]; Movement for the Liberation of Sao Tome and Principe-Social Democratic Party or MLSTP-PSD [Manuel Pinto Da COSTA]; Party for Democratic Convergence or PCD [Armindo AGUIAR, secretary general]; other small parties

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

Discovered and claimed by Portugal in the late 15th century, the islands' sugar-based economy gave way to coffee and cocoa in the 19th century - all grown with plantation slave labor, a form of which lingered into the 20th century. Although independence was achieved in 1975, democratic reforms were not instituted until the late 1980s. The first free elections were held in 1991.

Military branches

Army, Navy, Security Police

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$1 million (FY94)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.5% (FY94)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 32,933 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 17,391 (2000 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 48% (male 38,588; female 37,624) 15-64 years: 48% (male 37,216; female 39,959) 65 years and over: 4% (male 2,961; female 3,535) (2000 est.)

Birth rate

42.98 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate

7.76 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups

mestico, angolares (descendants of Angolan slaves), forros (descendants of freed slaves), servicais (contract laborers from Angola, Mozambique, and Cape Verde), tongas (children of servicais born on the islands), Europeans (primarily Portuguese)

Infant mortality rate

50.41 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages

Portuguese (official)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 65.25 years male: 63.84 years female: 66.7 years (2000 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 73% male: 85% female: 62% (1991 est.)

Nationality

noun: Sao Tomean(s) adjective: Sao Tomean

Net migration rate

-3.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population

159,883 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

3.16% (2000 est.)

Religions

Christian 80% (Roman Catholic, Evangelical Protestant, Seventh-Day Adventist)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

6.08 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Disputes - international

none [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]

Airports

2 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.)

Highways

total: 320 km paved: 218 km unpaved: 102 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine

total: 9 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 43,587 GRT/34,802 DWT ships by type: cargo 4, container 1, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off 3 (1999 est.)

Ports and harbors

Santo Antonio, Sao Tome

Railways

0 km